Leeds Rhinos’ win over Wakefield Trinity last night was action-packed to say the least, and the tie didn’t come without it’s fair share of controversy.
The Rhinos scored six tries and slotted eight conversions in a 40-22 win over their West Yorkshire neighbours, and that result has seen them stay at the top of the table for another fortnight at least.
Maika Sivo crossed for three of Leeds’ six, whilst Brodie Croft dotted down two and Kallum Watkins got over for his first of the season.
Sivo extended his lead at the top of the try scoring charts, meaning he has now scored 17 in nine league matches. However, the Fijian’s hat-trick was only half of his memorable moments in the game, after he was one of three Leeds players to be sin-binned.
The 32-year-old caught Trinity full-back Josh Rourke high and late, as the playmaker tried to force an offload out to wingman Will Tate.
Rourke was sent for a HIA, which he passed, and after a video referee review, Sivo was sent for 10 minutes, but plenty are saying that it could have been worse.
Wakefield boss Daryl Powell labelled the decision as a “weak call” in his post-match press conference, and Sky Sports pundits Jon Wilkin and Jodie Cunningham both thought it should have been red.
There was mitigation with the tackle, which is said to be why Sivo wasn’t sent for an early shower, with Rourke in an unnatural position as the contact is made.
Both pundits gave their verdict at half-time, with Cunningham saying: “I think he’s lucky.
“We saw the best of Sivo but on that one he’s got his timing all wrong.
“When you’re coming in to shut a play like that, you have to get it right and that contact there, there’s a little bit of dip and no one wants to see a red, but I think he’s lucky there.”
Wilkin added: “Absolutely, that’s a red card. There’s no doubt in my mind.
“He is reckless and takes speed into contact and gets it wrong.
“Josh Rourke might be dropping slightly but he biffs him round the head and knocks him out.
“It’s a red card for me, he’s very lucky.”
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Anonymous
May 2, 2026 at 10:03 am
Officials 100% bottled that it was clearly a red. I would love for them to explain what they saw as mitigation.
John Dalton
May 2, 2026 at 11:50 am
When is a red not a red?
When a RFL referee is viewing it!